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Biblical Keys for Financial Freedom

by Reverend Tiate Carson

Of the 38 recorded parables of Jesus, 16 deal with money or possessions. In the Gospels, one out of ten verses (288 in all) deal directly with the subject of money. The Bible offers 500 verses on prayer, less than 500 on faith, but more than 2,000 verses on money and possessions. “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”.  - Matthew 6:21                      

1.Decide to be different.

“Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.” - Daniel 6:3 -

1. Decide to be Different. “Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.” - Daniel 6:3 

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  • 78% of all Americans live paycheck to paycheck.

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  • 35% of all Americans have debt that is at least  6 months past due which means it’s in collections.

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  • The average Christian spends 105% of their income.

 

  • Excellence attracts opportunities and increase.

2. God wants me free to serve Him

2. God wants me free to serve Him. “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” - Matthew 6:24 

 

  • ​When I’m a slave to debt, I am not free to serve the Lord liberally.

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  • God doesn’t want me to invest my time, talent, and treasure financing Satan’s kingdom.

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” - Matthew 6:24 -

3.Give to God first 

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” - Malachi 3:10

3. Give to God First . "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” - Malachi 3:10

 

  • Giving to God your first 10%, which blesses the remaining 90%.

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  • When you place God first, He takes care of all of your needs. (Matt. 6:33) “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you."

4.Live beneath your means 

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”

- Philippians 4:11-12

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“Thou shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.” - Exodus 20:17

4. Live Beneath Your Means. “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”

- Philippians 4:11-12 “Thou shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.” - Exodus 20:17

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  • Learn to buy what you need and be thankful and content with what you have.

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  • Don’t allow what the Jones’ have, to influence you to buy what you know you can’t afford.

5.Save, Save, Save 

“Consider the ant, it has no commander, nor overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.”

- Proverbs 6:6-8 -

5. Save, Save, Save. “Consider the ant, it has no commander, nor overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.”  - Proverbs 6:6-8

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  • ​​Save for your children’s short-term future (college) (Proverbs 13:22) “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children…, but not for their entire life.

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  • Save for your families future (home, unemployment, illness, death, 6-8 month emergency fund)

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6.Do not co-sign for or loan money to friends and family 

“Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.” - Proverbs 22:26-27

6. Do not co-sign for or loan money to friends and family. “Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.” - Proverbs 22:26-27

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  • The quickest way to destroy personal relationships is co-signing for them. If they don’t pay, you will.

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  • If you can’t afford to lose it, then don’t give it. If you want to bless someone, then just bless them.

7.Get on a zero-based budget

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” - Luke 14:28

7. Get on a zero-based budget. “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” - Luke 14:28

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  • Give every dollar that you earn a destination in your budget. Be realistic. (You have to eat :) )

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  • This keeps you from overspending and hoping you have enough to cover it.

8.Plan for emergencies 

"Joseph had insight from the Lord that a famine was coming to the land" - Genesis 41

8. Plan for emergencies. “Joseph had insight from the Lord that a famine was coming to the land”  - Genesis 41

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  • ​​Emergencies will happen, so plan for them in your budget.

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  • Cars will need fixing. Children will get sick and have accidents. Your home will need repairs.

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9.Use cash over credit

“The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.” - Proverbs 22:7

9. Use cash over credit. “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.” - Proverbs 22:7

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  • People spend less when using cash, b/c you can’t spend any more than you physically have on you.

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  • Too much debt, places you in a position of being a slave to others and takes away your freedom.

10.If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is

"Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.” Proverbs 28:19

 

“Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.” - Proverbs 13:11

10. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. “Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.” - Proverbs 28:19 “Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.”- Proverbs 13:11

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  • Get rich quick schemes play on your immediate needs and desires.

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  • Take the time to count the costs of the decision you’re about to make.

11.If you owe it, pay it 

“Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.” - Romans 13:7-8

11. If you owe it, pay it.“Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.” - Romans 13:7-8

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  • ​​Paying off your lowest balances first will help you build emotional momentum to snow ball the rest.

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  • Bankruptcy is not a matter of if you can, but if you should.

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  • Jesus said, pay your taxes.

12.Give to others

“A man reaps what he sows.” -  Galatians 6:7

 

“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”  - 2 Corinthians 9:11

 

"...whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” - Matthew 25:40

12. Give to others. “A man reaps what he sows.” - Galatians 6:7 ; “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” - 2 Corinthians 9:11; "...whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” - Matthew 25:40

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  • Sowing into the lives of others, positions you to receive as well.

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  • God has blessed you to be a blessing to others and not to hoard it all for yourself.

13.Before you say “I do” check to see what’s due

“So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” - Matthew 19:6

13. Before you say “I do” check to see what’s due. “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” - Matthew 19:6

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  • The number one reason for divorce is money; so check out a person’s spending habits before “I do.” If no one cooks, then you’re going to be eating out, which is expensive.

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  • You can do more together than you can apart. Your spending should be on one accord.

14.Invest wisely. 

“Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.” - Ecclesiastes 11:2 

 

“You should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.” - Matthew 25:27

14. If you owe it, pay it.“Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.” Ecclesiastes 11:2; “You should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.” - Matthew 25:27

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  • ​​Invest in yourself to increase your income. (skilled trades, college, technology courses, read)

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  • Invest where you will get the best rate of return. (matching 401K, ROTH IRAs) Diversify.

15.Be led by the Holy Spirit

“Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” - Galatians 5:16

15. Be led by the Holy Spirit. “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” - Matthew 19:6

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  • Let God’s Spirit lead you. God will not contradict His word.

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  • Delay your gratification. Let your desires come into alignment with God’s desires for your life.

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